Arc-extinguishing device



Oct. 27, 1925. 1,558,852

0. H. ESCHHOLZ 2 ARC EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1922 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1925. 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. ESCHHOLZ, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC &, MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ARC-EXTINGUISHING DEVICE.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,856.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, O'r'ro I-I. EsoHHoLz, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Arc-Extinguishing Devices, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to arc-extinguishing devices for employment inconnection with a pair of relatively movable electrical contact membersand particularly to means whereby the re-establishment of arcs be.-tween a pair of relatively movable contact members shall be preventedand also to means whereby arcs may be completely extinguished.

Upon interrupting circuits of high voltage and the extinguishing of arcsformed 90 between the interrupter contact members, re-

establishment of the arcs frequently occurs, such re-establishment beingfacilitated by the energy developed in the region of the arc ing orswitch contact members. This action results in rapid deterioration ofswitch parts, excessive arc duration, and, in some cases, failure toclear the circuit.

Furthermore, it is recognized, that, upon quickly interrupting a highlyinductive circuit, voltages may be developed that are considerably inexcess of the circuit voltage. The desirability of rupturing suchcircuits without developing excessive voltage during the period ofcircuit-energy-dissipation is evident.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby an are formedbetween a pair of spaced conductor members may be readily extinguishedand liability of are reestablishment minimized.

In practicing my invention, I provide means whereby, after the ruptureof an are between a pair of main conductor members, another are ispermitted to form between a pair of auxiliary conductor members that areelectrically connected to the main conductor members, and I provide, inaddition, means for extinguishing the arcs that are formed betweeneither, or both, of the pairs of conductor members.

' In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation of a portion of a circuitinterrupter embodying my invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are views taken on the lines IIII and III-III,respectively. of Fig. 1.

A movable contact member 4 may be employed either as one of the mainswitch members or as an arcing tip supported by the main contact memberof a circuit. The member 4 is movable with respect to a contact member 5that is mounted upon a base 6 of insulating material, the contactmembers 4 and 5 being connected in a circuit (not shown).

The contact members 4 and 5 are provided with arcing horns 7 and arelocated in a chamber 8 that is provided with walls 9 of insulatingmaterial.

A second chamber 11 is mounted adjacent to the chamber 8 and is providedwith insulating barriers 12 between which are mounted a pair of arcinghorns 13 and 14. The arcing horn 13 is mounted upon a rigid support 15and is connected to the movable contact member 4 by means of a flexibleconductor 16. The arcing horn 14 is supported by the insulating base 6and has electrical connection with the stationary contact member 5 bymeans of the member 18. A pair of blow-out coils 20 and 21 are providedat the rear of chambers 8 and 11 to co-operate with pole pieces 23 and24 to rupture arcs that may be formed either between the arcing horns 13and 14 or the horns of the contact members 4 and 5.

The arcing horn 13 is provided with a slot through which a screw 26extends, so that itmay have sliding adjustment upon its support 15. Aset screw 27 determines the position of the horn 13 upon the supportingmember 15, and, consequently, permits adjustment thereof with respect tothe arcing born 14 to vary the distance between the horns 13 and 14.Each of the horns 13 and 14 is provided with a protuberance 2-8.

Upon the separation of the contact members 4 and 5, an arc is formedtherebetween. Under the influence of the magnetic blowout coils, the arcstream rises and its terminals are caused to travel upwardly along thearcing horns 7 until the voltage developed across this are stream equalsthe brealc down voltage of the. gap between the protuberances 28 of thearcing horns 13 and 14. An arc will thereby be established between theprotuberances 28 of the arcing horns 13 and 14 because they areelectrically connected to the contact members 4- and 5, as heretoforeexplained, and the tirst are will thereupon be extinguished.

The are formed between portions 28 is carried upwardly along the arcinghorns l3 and 1 1 until it isfinall extinguished by the magnetic blow-cutdevices heretotore decessive arcing.

' age.

The arcing horns 13 and Lt are made rela tively adjustable so that thedistance there between may be gauged to. permit me formation of an areat a predetermlned voltwill be understood that the chambers 8 and 11 maybe mounted at a considerable distance apart, or that the two sets 0tarcing-horns; may be mounted in single chamber. Also, the horns that aresupported upon the contact members may be provided with protuberancesand the auxiliary horns dispensed with.

Withthe arc-forming gap so proportioned that it will break down at apredetermined voltage, r'e-ignition of arcs will occur thereacross morereadily than between the separated contact members, and subsequentre-ignitions will serve to dissipate the stored circuit energy with aminimum of wear on the switch parts and will cease to occur when thearc-stream voltage becomes less than that required to brealt down thegap, at wl ich time the final interruption of the arc occurs.

Various other changes in detail or general arrangement may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope oi th inventionas ilGfiEIQClin the accompanying.

w-out (SVZCQ for rupturing arcs that torn: between the contact m bersand the arcing horns, the arcing h having electri l connections to thecontact members.

2. The combination witha pair ofrelatively movable contact members, ofmeans for extinguishing an arc therebetween comprising a pair of spacedarcing members having electrical connections to the movable contactmembers, means for causing the rupture of an ar formed between themovable contact members and for causing 'an arc to be establishedbetween the arcing horns, and-means for extinguishing the are formedbetween the arcing horns.

3. The combination with a pair of relatively movable contact members, ofan arcing chamber therefor, an auxiliary arcing chamber, a pair ofrelatively-fixed spaced conductor members located in the said auxiliarychamber, and electrical connections between the movable contact members,and the said conductor members, thelast named members being spaced aparta distance, less than the distance between the movable contact membersin their open position.

The combination with a pair of relatively movable contact members, oi anarcing chamber therefor, an auxiliary arcing chamber, a pair ofrelatively-fixed spaced conductor members located in the said auxiliarychamber, a magnetic-blow-out device for extinguishing arcs formedbetween the movable contact members,' and electrical connections betweenthe movable contact members and the said conductor members, the lastnamed members being spaced apart a distance less than the distancebetween the movable contact members in their open position.

5. The combination with a pair of spaced conductor members between.which arcs may be formed, of a protective device therefor comprisingtwo auxiliary conductor members electrically connected to the firstnamed members and spaced apart a less distance than the distance betweenthe first named conductor members under predetermined conditions. I

(3. The combination with a plurality of movable switch members, of ameans for causing the rupture of an are formed between the switchmembers comprising a pair of arcing horns connected in shunt relation toat least two of the switch members and spaced apart a distance lessthanthe maximum distance of separation of the switch members when in openposition.

7. The combination with a pair of relatively movable contact members, ofa. pair of arcing horns connect-en to the contact members and located ata point removed from the contact members and spaced apart a distanceless than the distance between the contact members when in fully openposition.

.ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th dayof Feb,

